Meridian Beyond the Tassel is a weekly podcast hosted by education equity advocate and rural communities champion, Craig Williams, and it featuring insider tips to help families and students prepare for the transition from high school to college. College isn’t for everyone but, on average, about two out of every three kids from rural communities wind up going to college. Our mission is to help rural kids make the most out of that process, helping them with the tools to gain admission to the schools of their choice and to help parents with strategies to make college more affordable. We know that kids from our rural communities are hardworking, smart, and motivated. But too often, they lack easy access to some of the tools and educational resources their suburban counterparts take for granted. Through this podcast, and our website, www.journey12.com, we want to enhance the odds for young people from our less populous areas to find success with their college admissions process and level the playing field for access to the nation’s top colleges and universities with that of our suburban counterparts.